Filed under: O.P.P.
the most in-depth breakdown of the dudes that grace the cover of this month’s XXL, brought to you by J.D. of HipHopUpdate. enjoy.
check out XXL’s "Leaders of the New School" cover from last year:
So we’ve got a few legit MC’s in there – Lupe, Joell Ortiz, Saigon – One which actually dropped an lp. Then we’ve got Plies, Boosie, Gorilla Zoe, Rich Boy, Young Dro, Papoose & Crooked I. Some of them are cool for the music they make, but come on – this years list is on a whole different level.
I think a big difference between this years list and the previous years is that it is obviously HEAVILY influenced by who essentially took over the net in the past year. Just take a look: Charles Hamilton, Mickey Factz, Asher Roth – I don’t think they’ve put out a physical product yet in any form, unless people burned their internet mixtapes. To me, this shows an obvious progression in the industry about how these guys are taking the industry by storm via the internet. Whether this is a good or bad progression…that’s up to you guys – the consumers.
Let’s run down each artist in alphabetical order:
1) Ace Hood – I’m not gonna lie when I say I dig Ace’s style. Yea, he’s a southern rapper who gets in to the usual topics, but believe me when I say he can spit. Want proof? Click here , here , or listen to him hold his own in the latest BET Awards Cypher here . He actually has an album on the horizon, unlike almost all of the other artists on the list, so give him that. Unfortunately, his buzz has died down to nothing after he released "Cash Flow" and "Ride" and the album has gotten pushed back. Bottom line: He’s above average, but he shouldn’t be on the list. REJECT .
2) Asher Roth - Asher is a phenomena in the industry. He’s a guy from the burbs who just has a lyrical ability to flow and come up with witty lyrics that people find entertaining. Times have changed people. Rap isn’t just for artists from Brooklyn – it’s a universal language that a lot of people of all ages, colors and classes embrace. Give the kid props – he doesn’t try to be anything he’s not. He doesn’t rap about anything he isn’t familiar with. He just does him. I’m not the biggest fan, but I recognize he’s getting love from EVERYONE in the industry nowadays. Bottom line: His appeal, lyrical ability and support should produce some quality material. ACCEPT .
3) Blu. I named Blu one of the artists to watch for in 2008 last year and he’s produced quality product after quality product. I like how he’s always doing collabo projects with DJ’s and other artists. Not a whole lot to really say except I can see his reign getting bigger in 2009. Bottom line: Blu is consistent with material and embraced by the net as a quality artist…he can only get bigger. ACCEPT
4) B.O.B. 
People seem to either love or hate B.O.B. I admit that I wasn’t up on the guy until recently, but I’m glad I decided to start getting in to his material. With his most recent placement on T.I.’s latest album and the amount of support he’s been getting from heavy hitters, this artist is being set up to win. At this point, it’s just a matter of execution and sticking to his unique style. Bottom line – B.O.B. is a unique artist with an appeal reaching outside of hardcore hip hop heads. ACCEPT
5) Charles Hamilton – I’m so-so with Hamilton, meaning I’ll listen to one song of his and enjoy it and then skip to the second song and think what the hell is this guy talking about. I think the best thing about Charles Hamilton is his ability to be diverse and produce. I think his gift & curse is that he’s stated he "doesn’t care" if you don’t like his material – because he’s gonna continue to do what he knows – on the flip side, his laid back, careless demeanor turns people off…and I know this because I read the comments people leave about him and the articles sites write about his music. Bottom line – Charles Hamilton has a lot of talent and an extremely strong internet following. I think he should cut it out with the mixtapes and oversaturating the web, because when his album drops, people are just gonna treat it like another mixtape and steal it offline. ACCEPT
6) Corey Gunz – Little do people know that Corey Gunz has been doin his thing for a little while now. I’m gonna go out and say his major break was on Wayne’s "A Milli" in which he murdered it. In fact, every track he’s put out since then, he’s come up with pretty good material. Bottom Line – I honestly can’t see Gunz selling "A Milli" himself, but if he gets the right people backing him, I’m sure 2009 will be his breakout year. ACCEPT
7) Curren$y – The former Young Money underboss and go to guy for Lil Wayne, alongside Mack Maine. He’s got a lot of potential and has dropped some nice material via mixtapes. He dropped his supposed "last mixtape" like a month ago…sooo….does that mean an album? I think not. I personally think dude is just average and I can’t see him dropping a full length album via a major label this coming year. His best chance was on the Young Money imprint. Bottom line: Curren$y has been a fan favorite, but he missed his best shot to do anything significant beside mixtapes. REJECT .
Kid Cudi. Cudi is an obvious personal favorite of mine and he’s been featured on HipHopUpdate numerous times. Why is 2009 his year? The amount of buzz just one mixtape of material has caused is ridiculous. He’s been dubbed by Kanye West himself the next big artist. He has just about all the young gunners and the big names checking for his material. Oh, and he raps, sings and acts (he’s signed on to a new show to debut on HBO). Multitalented and he reaches out to people cross-genre’s. His situation at G.O.O.D. Music isn’t bad either. Bottom Line – Love him or hate him, Cudi makes great, melodic music that appeals to a wide audience. No gun talk here. ACCEPT
9) Mickey Factz. Hmmm. Mickey Factz. I’m not sure what to say about him. He makes good music, but to me, that’s all it is. Good freakin music. The problem I have is that yes, he has a great web following due to major sites/blogs featuring him, but if you replaced him with Sugar Tongue Slim, Mickey Halsted, Consequence, GemStones and many others – I wouldn’t be upset. Bottom Line – a great artist that puts on a good show, but he could easily be replaced by a slew of other up and comers. No hate at all – because like I said, Factz is a very good artist…I just see the industry moving along fine if he were replaced. REJECT
10) Wale. You all know my stance on Wale – I was the first to put dude on at a national level, media-wise, and I’m proud I got the opportunity to do so. Before you say Wale isn’t that special – again, check for the artists we were accepting the past two years. Wale is the definition of how an artist should be developed having already toured the world with Mark Ronson and doing collabo’s with the biggest and most reputable names in the industry. Whether he’ll sell in this day and age – who knows. Bottom line – Above average talent who has done a great job of setting himself up for success. Album in March. ACCEPT
SO WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE LIST THAT DIDN’T MAKE IT?
This dude above first and foremost. Drake. He’s just signed to Interscope. He’s got Lil Wayne as an executive for his album. He rips almost anything and everything. I think if Big Sean of G.O.O.D. music had put out additional material beside his one mixtape, he could have been included. GemStones aka Gemini of Lupe’s 1st & 15th family. Again, if he had put out more consistent material, I think he could have been included. Some people are saying the Cool Kids should have been on the list – but why the Cool Kids and not Kidz in the Hall? Wiz Khalifa? Sure…he’s already signed on Warner Bros. but he needs to get back to that tough lyricism he displayed on his first mixtapes. Some people were saying Termanology, but I think since he’s already put out a lot of material via Statik Selektah and his own album, XXL just wanted to focus on people who haven’t had a major release yet.
Anyone else who should have made the list? Any notables? Are you happy with the state of hip hop and its up and comers? Feel free to leave comments and critique my own evaluation.
****edit – just came across THIS POST, which essentially says the same thing which I initially said – how the guys featured by XXL are the main guys who ran the blog game this past year or so. Also, HERE is a more critical view.
AND YO! a mixtape for y’all, featuring the best tracks by these 10 MC’s, so if you don’t know much about these guys, look no further. check them out here.
33 Comments so far
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Curren$y more than deserves to be on this list. He has a serious body of work with limited mainstream help or approval, and has a deep following off of strictly mixtapes and sidekick songs with lil wayne. It may take awhile but he will get his, to hungry not to.
What I don’t understand is how the cool kids weren’t on this cover. Are they considered sophomores? Minus Cudi and Wale ill take the cool kids over everybody else mentioned.
Comment by Lo 10.28.08 @ 2:19 pm
I think the list is relatively fair, but how many of them do we ACTUALLY expect to last? There have been so few new budding superstars lately that it’s depressing to look at the list and probably think 9 of the 10 won’t make it.
Personally I’m partial to Mickey Factz (Modi, if you haven’t heard his ‘In the Search of the Nerd’ you are seriously missing out, that shit is ‘crucial’ as you would say) and Wale. I think Cool Kids should DEFINITELY have been on this list.
But back to my point, what rappers have come out in the past, lets say… 4 years and turned into stars?
-Soulja Boy (I don’t like him but he gets buzz, we’ll see after this next album what happens)
-Lupe Fiasco (very talented, more importantly had co-signs on his talent from people like Jay-Z and Kanye)
-The Game (dropped in ’04 so he’s a stretch in terms of time, he was put on a huge pedestal too)
-Rick Ross?
I can’t name anyone else. The battlefield is littered with the “should have been’s”
-Saigon
-Papoose
-Stat Quo?
My point is I don’t think the cover means anything. I think almost all of them are talented but people don’t buy records for talent, I think we’ll be lucky if two of them make a career on a major (3+ albums).
Comment by Alex K. 10.28.08 @ 2:29 pm
cover definitely gave some people a first step . it’s just a matter of who makes the most of that advantage, because they only have a few months to turn skeptics into believers.
Comment by the pied piper who loves to pipe 10.28.08 @ 2:33 pm
Thanks for posting this modi man.
I just want to make it clear, I don’t necessarily dislike any of the artists featured this year. I just don’t think Curren$y’s going to get anywhere beside maybe an independent street album and a few more mixtapes. I can’t see Ace Hood selling after they screwed him on the release date.
Mickey Factz – I love dudes music, but like I said, I feel like there’s a million introspective dudes doing the same thing right now. I’d rather take Drake, GemStones, Tabi Bonney, Sugar Tongue Slim or whoever.
Asher Roth – I’m still undecided but bottom line the dude has created a niche and he’s got the industry talking. I can’t say whether he’s viewed as a joke or what, but Asher has created something out of nothing, so props.
Alex K you bring up a great point – how many will actually sell? Does it matter if they sell? I dunno – this is just another reason why I don’t do lists. Opinion is opinion.
Comment by J.D. 10.28.08 @ 3:34 pm
Blu was finally mentioned!
this dude been gettin buzz since 06 when he dropped Below the Heavens. nobody’s heard of him but when i play a track by him, people be like, “Damn, who is this? he’s killin it!” he was on that Hostile Gospel Remix too, so he’s gettin some recognition. dude is definitely one of the most talented i’ve seen since Lupe started gettin his buzz.
Wale is prolly my favorite rapper outta DC right now. my boy was telling me about him round 06 and he told me he was gonna blow up JUST cuz he was from around his way (Landover). he was right. and i been listening to Wale since. (Mixtape About Nothing is my choice for Mixtape of the Year too!)
thing about the Cool Kids is i don’t think they’re gonna go very far if they keep comin out with this 80′s shit. its gonna get old.
i like them, but i don’t think they gonna be able to stick around.
i definitely agree with you on Termanology, tho, Modi. but im biased cuz he’s from MA. but he’s definitely an up & comer, but maybe he’s too gritty to become a real superstar? who knows.
cosign on that Drake post tho. i think he just needs to shed this whole “Degrassi” image he has, cuz it prolly conflicts with his whole rappin biz…or not..haven’t seen the show but im guessing thats what kept him from being put n the list.
Kidz in the Hall dropped their debut in 06, i believe. “School Was My Hustle” (better than “In Crowd,” IMO… thats why i think they weren’t on there
Comment by CV to BC? 10.28.08 @ 3:47 pm
lol i love great convo.
JD:
- yea. lists suck for the most part. just like reviews of albums. those things are useless. i don’t really care what one person has to say about something. they can’t tell me how it’ll move my body when i jam to it.
- mickey is kinda nice, in all honesty. and he can PERFORM. i saw him rock an outdoor stage prety well this summer in NYC. and his man who produces his tracks is cool as shit, too. he used to stay out here in the bean! but you’re right. he can be compared to some other NY rappers. i think he can flow though. it’s just hard to differentiate yourself when you’re from where rap was born sometimes. it can be something as simple as your accent.
- unfortunately, you’re probably right about curren$y the hot spitta. he will have a cult following but i doubt his lazy ass flow will appeal to the masses. first time i really heard him spit was on that shovelin’ snow joint on baby’s album. WOOOWEE! in fact, here you go: http://www.zshare.net/audio/50588214009009c4/ jam that and tell me you don’t hear some potential! ha. and ace hood! he may take the south like plies did and work his way up from there, but i don’t know, i’m not in FL so i can’t gauge his love out there. as you can see in that cipher video (w/ him and juelz and jada and whoever else was in that joint), he can FLOW. but i was surprised they put him on the cover, too. i think it’s about diversifying it all. none of the rappers are similar, even the three new yorkers (cory, mickey, charles). besides, XXL is smart. cause commotion by telling you who should be next. cuz now we got all sorts of blogs talking about it.
CV:
- blu is a G. i saw him back-to-back days in NY at the end of the summer, and talked to him for a sec. he seemed to be surprised at all the fans he had, and i like the humility that people like him have.
- cool kids! they are nice but they need some intervention. and maybe some deeper lyrics. if this was the 80′s, they’d have it on LOCK. like, MC hammer lock. action figures and TV shows and shit. but it’s 08/09.
-i feel like drake shook his degrassi past! or if he hasn’t completely, he’s doing great work shaking it. maybe it’s the fact that he’s canadian…cuz until wayne co-signed, nobody was showing him love. and he has been awesome since he came out. even i had to shake my head a few times when i realized that guy rhyming was the same dude in the wheelchair on degrassi. tidbit: me and my man made a track for him, “special,” that’s on his first mixtape. yeeaaaaah.
i need to go write a paper.
Comment by modi 10.28.08 @ 4:02 pm“- cool kids! they are nice but they need some intervention. and maybe some deeper lyrics. if this was the 80’s, they’d have it on LOCK. like, MC hammer lock. action figures and TV shows and shit. but it’s 08/09.”
0-8 is the new 8-0. You looked around at what’s in style lately?
They do need to evolve though, I think “Delivery Man” was a good step in the right direction.
Comment by Alex K. 10.28.08 @ 4:36 pmnah, homie. that 80′s shit is done. it’s on some refined shit now. if we’re going off style, it’s just clean cut, not dookie chains and 4 fingered rings. if we’re talking about the production, no way. space ship music is in. breakbeats aren’t.
matter fact, tell me what’s in style that reminds you of the 80′s. i was born in 86 but all i remember is the 90′s. and i’m pretty sure all those guys in SOHO are the same. they don’t know what the 80′s were about. but for some reason, they’re all about it. or at leas,t used to be. if anything, that’s about the only spot i could tell you that some people who think the 80′s are in style are at.
Comment by modi 10.28.08 @ 4:59 pm
I agree Drake should be on the list and in my opinion ace hood sucks and is yet another one of the people benefiting from faking his thug and spitting Rick Ross ghost lyrics. But Kidz in the Hall and Exponentially Worse than the Cool Kids lets be serious who should have been on this list is TRULY U-N-I these dudes are SICK inventive and real. I whish they would create a trio with them and Blu, i think they would have some killer songs. Also MAYBE Tanya morgan could be on here, I mean they did put Cuddi who I think is the WACKEST.
Comment by a fan 10.28.08 @ 9:28 pm
Ace Hood coulda easily been replaced with Drake, The Cool Kids, or Kidz In The Hall. other than that, yeah, i agree with that list. my goal is to be on that same list in 2010. XXL, look out. Modi…3 new mixtapes in the next 6 months. world takeover.
Peace & Hip-Hop
Lyriciss
short and simple..
hot =
kid cudi
charles hamilton
corey gunz
wack =
currensy
asher roth
b.o.b
needs work =
wale
mickey facts
blu
ace hood
drake shittin on all these niggas. hes not a freshman cuz hes too good. he gotta play wit the big kids cuz it aint fair lol
Comment by g5 stay live 10.29.08 @ 6:04 pm
The Cool Kids were not featured on the cover because they’re a group only solo artist qualified oh and drake is not that good plus he’s canadian
Comment by D.. 11.05.08 @ 5:02 am
^ lmfao….
Cool Kids > Ace Hood….they easily kick that niggas ass off the cover…and if we had to choose ONE of the Cool Kids…Mikey shit…point blank.
Comment by Mouse aka The Waldorf Posterboy 11.14.08 @ 6:51 pm
First and foremost I would like to say that everyone is entitled to their own opinon. So just because you don’t agree with that person doesn’t make them wrong. Hiphop is totally based upon an individual’s perferernce. So now let me say what I really wanted to say. For the most part I would have to agree with some of the statements made by whomever website/blog this belongs to. But I do have my own perspective and views of these such artist. So here’s are my top ten artist from 1-10. 1) Cory gunz: This guy is without a doubt the most talented lyricist amongst them all. I believe he has the the charisma, potential, and with the right people he could be a great MC for years to come. 2) Curren$y: This dude has his own style that practically anyone can dig. Dat smoke music, modern day hippie. 3) Kid Cudi: This guy is Super duper dope man I love his style probably more than any of the other artist in this class. 4) Mickey Factz: he is like a cross between lupe fiasco and Big L wit the pen. 5) Asher Roth has the white people thinkin he is their barack obama of the rap/ hiphop game..lol. 6) BLU: He has some great lyrical balance , I just don’t see him ever becoming one of those well known artist. 7) Charles Hamilton: Ehh he’s. Somewhat of a talented artist. His lyrical skills are horrible, his beats are ridculous( not attractive). Wale: Is just another artist from the streets, no true meaning. 9) B.o.B.: a good fit for vocals on a hook or to play that “nate dogg” roll of the south, but that’s as far as it goes. 10) Ace hood: Just don’t see any potential in him other than he has some great supporting cast behind him in Dj khaled and Co. ( By the way I don’t really like khaled anyway I’m more of a drama fan). So there it is my 2 cents are in and if anyone wants to challenge that or reply my email is jerryjr89@aol.com or hit da blog… dopemusik.blogspot.com…thanks..God bless!
Just a follow up….the artist that did not make da cover that should have were: 1) cool kids 2) drake, 3) The insomniaks
Comment by k!D fresh 01.26.09 @ 3:39 am
So tired of these fucking bloggers. What the fuck is going on, freedom of expression is one thing, but these opionionated lames make me sick. muthafuckers work in homedepot in Iowa in a stock room and they suppose to be so fucking intelligent. Look at that XXL Cover, them HOT 10… Every last one of them are flops. WTF, has anyone said… Damn, they’re 0-10 so far YET 08′s cover, they batted 50%. Plies, Lil Boosie, Crooked I, Ortiz, Lupe, Rich boy (Still had a Plat single), …Even Sai had Enterouge, Zoe decent sales…But these Blog nominated rappers all have no panned out. Lets note they missed non Blog friendly rappers such as Nipsy, Drake, Jay Rock, Derty Den, JCole, Cool Kids, Tanya Morgan… Are you serious??? Time to start keepin it real about these fucking bloggers.
Comment by Screw 08.20.09 @ 11:55 am
Ha, interesting looking back on this now. The cream definitely rose to the top (Wale, Cudi, BoB)
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Comment by Cadee 05.03.10 @ 2:08 pmLeave a comment
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